Respiratory Care Practitioner II

SCHEDULE: Part-time Regular; 20-32 hours/week; Night Shift.

 

Week 1: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday

 

Week 2: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday

 

EDUCATION: High School Diploma/GED. Graduate from a respiratory care education program supported by

CoARC or accredited by CAAHEP, required, with 62 semester hours of college credit, including a

background in the basic sciences, or baccalaureate degree in an area other than respiratory care or

Associates of Arts or Science degree, preferred.

 

CERTIFICATION/LICENSE: Certified by the National Board for Respiratory Care. Certified or Registered

Pulmonary Function. Technologist by the National Board for Respiratory Care preferred, but may be

required for this particular position. Registered by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic

Technologists preferred, but may be required for this particular position. Respiratory Care

Practitioner, California. BLS. Depending on the particular specialty, ACLS, NRP or PALS may be

required for this particular position.

 

POSITION SUMMARY:

 

Under supervision of a physician experienced in respiratory care, in accordance with policies and

procedures approved by the Medical Director, is expected to assume clinical responsibility for

specific respiratory care modalities and to adjust or modify therapeutic techniques within

well-defined procedures based on a limited range of patient responses. Works under the general

supervision of an administrative supervisor or at the direction of a technical lead to deliver

respiratory care services to patients in all areas of the hospital. Must be able to adapt to the

particular area of duty assignment and to perform special duties required by the assignment.

Standards assigned must be maintained. Special duties may include provision of basic and advanced

respiratory care to neonatal and pediatric patients in the intensive care unit and during transport,

which frequently requires making rapid decisions and assisting physicians to respond to status

changes in neonatal and pediatric patients. Special duties may include performance of a variety of

diagnostic tests of the cardiopulmonary system and to determine the effect of disease and treatment

on that system.

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

 

High School Diploma/GED; Graduate of an accredited respiratory care education program supported by

CoARC or accredited by CAAHEP, required, with 62 semester hours of college credit, including a

background in the basic sciences, or baccalaureate degree in an area other than respiratory care or

Associates of Arts or Science degree, preferred. Licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner in the State

of California. Certification from the National Board of Respiratory Care. At least one year of

recent critical care experience preferred, may be required for this particular position. At least

one year of clinical experience in neonatal/pediatric respiratory care preferred, may be required

for this particular position. Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, technical manuals,

and short correspondence or memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to speak and

understand spoken English. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group

situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization. Must be willing to work

in a Labor Management Partnership environment. Also refer to Position Specifications outlined in the

appropriate collective bargaining agreement.

 

Experience Requirement: At least three (3) years regular (20 hours of more per week) of recent

experience as Respiratory Care. At least one (1) year critical care experience. At lease one (1)

year of clinical experience in neonatal/pediatric respiratory care preferred, may be required for

this particular position.

 

CLERICAL SKILLS: Keyboard skills preferred.

 

DUTIES:

 

Selects Reviews, Obtains and Interprets Data:

 

Reads and evaluates physician's orders, clarifying as needed. Accurately transcribes physician

orders to electronic charting system or departmental patient master. Reviews patient information

including history, lab data, radiologic studies, progress notes, respiratory and cardiovascular

monitoring data and performs assessment/data collection in systematic manner. Systematically

assesses patient's overall cardiopulmonary status by inspection, palpation, percussion,

auscultation, and patient interview. Interprets data to formulate goal-directed plan of care and

determines requirements for treatment such as type and duration of therapy, precautions to be

observed, equipment required, and medication and dosages. Determines modifications to physician

orders, which optimize patient, care and makes recommendations to physician. Recommends procedures

to obtain additional data including radiographs, bronchoscopy, Gram stain and C&S, spirometry, blood

gas analysis, lung mechanics, work of breathing, EKG, noninvasive monitoring

 

Performs Diagnostic Modalities:

 

Performs procedures and interprets results: ABG sampling and analysis, co-oximetry, spirometry,

pressure-volume and flow-volume loops, cuff pressure, sputum induction. May perform EKG's. May place

Holter monitor. May perform pulmonary function, and sleep diagnostic tests. May perform Exercise

Stress Tests. May perform indirect calorimetry

 

Selects Assembles and Checks Equipment for Proper Function, Operation and Cleanliness:

 

Selects, assembles and checks equipment for cleanliness, proper function and safe operation. Ensures

proper function and ready availability of respiratory related life support equipment Troubleshoots

and performs minor repairs of equipment. May perform Quality control procedures for blood analysis

devices. May perform Quality control, calibrate, maintain and troubleshoot pulmonary function

diagnostic equipment. Participates in routine departmental programs of cleaning, disinfecting and

sterilizing of respiratory care and other related equipment.

 

Participates in routine departmental preventive maintenance program and performs basic repairs.

Orders/stocks departmental supplies

 

Initiates, Conducts and Modifies Prescribed Therapeutic or Diagnostic Procedures:

 

Operates all medical equipment within manufacturer and department guidelines to safely treat

patients. Checks and adjusts alarms. Observes established safety and security procedures and

protects patients from nosocomial infection. Explains planned therapy or procedure and goals to

patient in understandable terms to achieve optimal therapeutic outcome. Conducts therapeutic

procedures to maintain a patent airway, remove bronchopulmonary secretions, and/or achieve adequate

ventilation and oxygenation. Monitors patient's physiological responses to therapy, recognizes

patient adverse reaction and stops or modifies or recommends modification to procedure based on

patient response. Documents all required information in the medical record according to departmental

policy and procedure. Initiates pressure-cycled/volume-cycled/high frequency ventilation.

Weans/modifies mechanical ventilation according to assessment and physician orders. Assists with or

performs extubation. Conducts patient education and disease management. Performs cardiopulmonary

resuscitation according to resuscitation guidelines. May assist with or perform intubation. May

assist the physician when performing bronchoscopy, thoracentesis, tracheostomy, cardioversion, and

intubation. May participate in land/air critical care transport. May assist with high risk

deliveries. May assist with surfactant replacement in neonates. May participate in pulmonary

rehabilitation, home care. May assist with discharge planning. May assist with community outreach.

May initiate and implement therapist driven protocols